Chapter 632 - Starlight Archipelago And Moonlight Island
The four junior disciples were very well-behaved and followed under Lina's leadership obediently without a hint of arrogance or complacency for their mission completion.
No matter how proud they were, it was not enough for them to believe that five 9-star Ranked Awakeners can take on an Early-rank 1 Transcendent.
It was simply suicide.
It was a team of 30 genius 9-star Ranked Awakeners, then perhaps, it might be doable. However, that was not the case.
Thus, when their senior disciple-sister Lina suggested returning to the Grand Ocean Palace, they were more than happy to oblige.
"I wonder how talented one would have to be to challenge Early-rank 1 Transcendent sea monsters at the 9-star Rank Awakener Realm…" A curious junior disciple-sister could not help but wonder.
At the same time, the group was on their return journey from the 32nd island, Blackcoral Island, within the 9-star level zone of the Starlight Archipelago that exists in the Boundless Sea, east of the Geyser Kingdom.
The group rode on a steel ship comparable to a Tier-2 defensive treasure and used water-elemental abilities to sail their ship through the waters quickly like a speedboat.
"Challenge a great realm beyond one's cultivation level, huh?"
One of the two junior disciple-brothers overhead before mentioning, "I heard there are demon-level geniuses in our Grand Ocean Palace that can challenge three sub-realms above their cultivation level. But challenging a great realm beyond is simply unheard of."
"I don't think anyone can challenge a great realm beyond one's cultivation level. The sheer difference in power is not something that can be easily overcome with high-level battle skills and high-quality weapons alone," the other junior disciple-brother added.
"That's exactly right. Even if it is possible, it wouldn't be your turn to challenge one, so don't have any funny thoughts in trying," Lina Greene lectured her junior disciple-brothers and sisters.
"Successfully challenging a great realm beyond would give you unprecedented fame and glory, but it's not worth risking your life over it. After all, we only have one life, understand?"
"Yes, senior disciple-sister Lina. We will listen to you," the junior disciple-brothers and sisters answered obediently.
Although they all had the same cultivation level and 6-8 years younger than their senior disciple-sister Lina, they were not arrogant enough to believe that they were more talented than she was.
After all, they had started cultivating from a young age, but their senior disciple-sister Lina only took a few weeks to catch up to their level.
It was clear who was more talented between them.
Of course, being the Venerable Pill Master's third direct disciple played a part in their senior disciple-sister Lina's swift rise in cultivation.
However, that was her fortune.
Roughly three hours later, the Tier-2 Steel Ship passed through several islands of various sizes before the group reached the first island, Moonlight Island, the westernmost island of the thousand islands existing within the Starlight Archipelago.
The steel ship was docked at the Moonlight Island's port before the group hopped off, and the steel ship disappeared into Lina Greene's interspatial ring shortly after.
"Let us head to the Mission Hall and turn in the materials to collect our rewards," Lina Greene suggested.
"Yes, senior disciple-sister Lina," the junior disciple-brothers and sisters agreed before following Lina's lead.
The group quickly passed the stone entrance with intricate runic engravings and entered the military outpost before making their way over to the Mission Hall.
Inside of the Mission Hall, Lina Greene made her way to the counter and handed over a wooden plague with words and numbers engraved on it while the junior disciple-brothers and sisters waited outside.
Shortly after the mission clerk accepted the wooden plague, Lina followed the clerk's instruction and dump the 20 9-star level carcasses in the designated containment area for review.
"Un. That is 20 9-star level sea monster carcasses," the mission clerk nodded before passing a bag of Redstones to Lina, "Here is the mission reward. Please count if it is the right amount."
"60 Redstones exactly. It is the right amount," Lina spoke after counting the Redstones in the bag before she nodded with a smile, "Thank you."
"No, thank you for the hard work, senior disciple-sister Lina," The mission clerk smiled back.
Shortly after, soldiers arrive to deliver the 9-star sea monster carcasses to the processing plant, where they will debone and separate the bodies into useful materials, food, and even medicinal ingredients.
Outside the Mission Hall, the eyes of the junior disciple-brothers and sisters immediately lit up and hurried over after seeing their senior disciple-sister Lina exited the building.
"How'd it go, senior disciple-sister Lina? Did you receive the full payment for our mission? The Mission Hall didn't try to cheat us, did they?"
"The Mission Hall is stingy and sometimes shortchange the disciples when they do not carefully check the rewards. Even if they come back later, they have no proof to demand compensation from the Mission Hall."
A junior disciple-sister and brother spoke anxiously before another junior disciple-sister inquired, "Did you check properly before leaving, senior disciple-sister Lina?"
"Don't worry. I was meticulous enough to check already," Lina Green smiled slightly and distributed the Redstones in the leather pouch she received, "There's a total of 60 Redstones as per the mission reward stated, enough for everyone to receive 12 Redstones each."
Redstone was the primary source of currency that circulates throughout the Geyser Kingdom.
The mineral contains a particular source of energy with various usage, including but not limited to cultivation, growing herbs, and rune-crafting.
"No one would dare to cheat the disciple of the Venerable Pill Master," a junior disciple-brother stated before saying, "If we had started earlier in the day, we could have done a few more missions."
"Unfortunately, the rule of the outpost states that disciples and soldiers can only accept one mission at any given time. Otherwise, we could have easily done a few dozen missions a day."
The main problem was the travel time between the first outpost and islands further inside the Starlight Archipelago, and the curfew before dangerous sea monsters reign the night sea.
"Can we join your party next time you decide to go hunt too, senior disciple-sister Lina?" a junior disciple-sister inquired with a hopeful gaze.
Lina smiled and nodded, "Of course—"
"Yo—! If it isn't the Venerable Pill Master's new disciple?" An unpleasant voice suddenly interrupted Lina.